Germany calls for disarmament of Kurdish militants in Syria
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German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock cautions against the risks of further escalation with Kurdish forces in northern Syria.
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Germany's Minister for Foreign Affairs Annalena Baerbock attends a plenary session of the 31st Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Ministerial summit, in Ta'Qali, Malta, Thursday, Dec. 5, 2024 (AP)
Kurdish militants in Syria must disarm and integrate into the country’s newly formed government security forces, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock declared on Friday following discussions with her Turkish counterpart in Ankara.
Speaking at a press conference, Baerbock underscored that ensuring the safety of Kurdish communities is crucial for achieving a free and stable Syria. At the same time, she acknowledged Turkiye’s security concerns, emphasizing the need to address them to maintain regional stability.
Turkiye views the Kurdish People's Defense Units (YPG) in Syria, which has long cooperated with US forces, as an extension of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), a group designated as a terrorist organization by Ankara, Washington, and the EU.
Turkish forces and their Syrian allies have engaged in clashes with the YPG since the fall of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s regime earlier this month.
The top German diplomat emphasized that "security, especially for Kurds, is essential for a free and secure future for Syria," cautioning against the risks of further escalation with Kurdish forces.
Earlier in the day, Baerbock expressed concern over escalating violence in northern Syria, where Turkish troops and Ankara-backed forces have been battling the Syrian Defence Forces (SDF), a Kurdish-led group supported by the United States.
On Thursday, a Turkish Defense Ministry official stated that Turkiye would continue its campaign until Kurdish fighters disarm.
As militants advanced in a swift 12-day offensive that culminated in the fall of the al-Assad regime on December 8, Turkish-backed forces launched a parallel operation against Kurdish-led groups in northern Syria. The resulting clashes have claimed hundreds of lives in recent days.
"Thousands of Kurds from Manbij and other places are on the run in Syria or are afraid of fresh violence," Baerbock noted.
Germany to judge Syria’s new leadership by actions
In a related context, the German Foreign Minister indicated that Berlin would evaluate the new Syrian administration led by the Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) group based on its actions amid international unease regarding its ties to radicalism.
"It is clear that a radical Islamist order will only lead to new fragmentation, new oppression and therefore new violence," she warned.
"We will judge the new rulers by their actions."
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